Hello, and welcome to Sports Mole's live coverage of the match in the Premier League between Southampton and Sunderland.

After both clubs ended last season as two of the form sides in the division, they would have had high hopes of making a quick start to this campaign but the early optimism has not resulted in points on the board. Both clubs have had to make trips to face one of the Manchester clubs but they missed out in their other encounters and today marks an important game for both sides.

Claude Puel was the surprise choice to replace Ronald Koeman in the St Mary's dugout but Southampton hope that they have got the right man after being advised to appoint the Frenchman by Arsene Wenger. Nevertheless, doubts will linger over his suitability to the Premier League until he registers his first victory and he will not want to go into the international break - and their next contest away at Arsenal - without winning a game.

The same can be said for David Moyes, who is having to oversee comings and goings in his squad while looking to ensure his side do not get cut adrift at the bottom. It is still very early days but a third defeat in a row would set the tone for the remainder of the season and it's imperative that he and Sunderland get off the mark this afternoon.

Before we get onto the team news, let me point you in the direction of our live coverage of the game at White Hart Lane between Tottenham Hotspur and Liverpool. There are less than 10 minutes to go in North London but with the score locked at 1-1, it is very finely poised! Click here to keep up-to-date with the action.

Anyway, without further ado, let's get onto the team news from St Mary's...

SOUTHAMPTON XI: Forster, Cedric, Fonte, Van Dijk, Targett, Romeu, Davis, Hojbjerg, Tadic, Redmond, Austin

SOUTHAMPTON SUBSTITUTES: McCarthy, Yoshida, Clasie, Long, Rodriguez, Ward-Prowse, Bertrand

SUNDERLAND XI: Pickford, Manquillo, Djilobodji, Kone, van Aanholt, Rodwell, Pienaar, Gooch, Borini, Januzaj, Defoe

SUNDERLAND SUBSTITUTES: Stryjek, Khazri, Watmore, Lens, McNair, Love, Asoro

First of all, let's take a look at Southampton who have made just the one alteration to their starting lineup. In comes Charlie Austin for his first start of the season, with Shane Long dropping to the bench. Two notable inclusions on the bench sees Ryan Bertrand return from injury and Jay Rodriguez take his place despite being linked with a transfer away from the club.

Moyes has made a number of changes to his team with Jordan Pickford being handed just his third Premier League start in place of the injured Vito Mannone. Jermain Defoe skippers the side in place of John O'Shea while Donald love and Paddy mcNair both drop down to the bench with new signing Javier Manquillo, Lamina Kone and Steven Pienaar being handed a start.

RESULT! The full-time whistle has gone at White Hart Lane and Spurs and Liverpool have been forced to share the points. Read all about it with how on-the-whistle match report.

HEAD TO HEAD! The two teams will be meeting for the 65th time this afternoon with Southampton holding a narrow 25-24 in regards to wins. However, it is Sunderland who have generally achieved the better results in this fixture since 2006 with the Black Cats having suffered just two defeats.

LAST MEETING! The most recent showdown between the two clubs took place in March and it appeared that Sunderland were going to run out narrow winners thanks to a late strike from Jermain Defoe. However, despite being down to 10 men, the Saints found a way to earn a share of the spoils. Read up on the match report here.

The big talking point in the Southampton starting lineup is the return of Charlie Austin. It's fair to say that the forward's move to St Mary's hasn't quite worked out so far with the 27-year-old being restricted to just two starts and seven substitute appearances since the middle of January. His only goal for the club came eight minutes into his debut at Manchester United meaning that it has been over seven months since he last found the back of the net. He could do with changing that sequence this afternoon...

An immediate debut for Javier Manquillo would have caught the eye of Sunderland supporters. The young Spaniard played second fiddle to Alberto Moreno during a year-long loan spell at Liverpool during the 2014-15 campaign but he made 36 starts in a Marseille shirt last year so he certainly comes with good pedigree. It hasn't quite worked out for him at Atletico Madrid so far but this is his chance to impress Diego Simeone.

PREDICTION! The stats suggest that we should not expect too many goals in this one and it is hard to disagree. Sunderland will always have a goal in them as long as Defoe is on the pitch but we think Southampton are going to have a comfortable afternoon and run out 2-0 winners.

As always with Sports Mole, we have every game covered in the Premier League and this afternoon is no different. If this game doesn't float your boat, we have plenty more available in our 'Live Commentaries' section here.

Here comes the two teams to an expectant crowd at St Mary's. The home fans won't accept anything less than a win this afternoon but can Sunderland cause a surprise? We will find out over the next couple of hours.

Southampton get us underway at St Mary's.

Both sides haven't wasted any time in getting the ball into the penalty area but they can't capitalise on their pressure. Southampton have started the better but Sunderland look up for this.

Austin looks eager to make an impression. He does not offer the same level of movement as Long but he is looking to play on the shoulder of the last defender. Sunderland are looking to keep Borini active in the play. They miss the Italian when he isn't involved.

CHANCE! Southampton are beginning to up the tempo now and they come within inches of taking the lead. A cross from Targett was only cleared to Tadic but after taking a touch, the Serbian drilled the ball marginally over the crossbar on the half-volley.

CHANCE! Pickford is only making his third Premier League appearance but that was the save of a top-flight veteran. Austin was played in on goal but had to take his shot early under pressure from a defender. It appeared to be heading towards the bottom corner but the England Under-21 international was able to tip the ball wide of the post.

Southampton have set a very high pace here and Sunderland are struggling to cope. They cannot afford to sit too deep because it seems only a matter of time before the home side take advantage.

SAVE! More Saints pressure ends with Austin firing another shot on target but it is too close to Pickford and the goalkeeper is able to make the save. Moyes will not be happy with how his team are playing.

Sunderland earn a corner which Januzaj whips into the penalty area but it comes to nothing. At least the defenders get a break from having to keep the ball out of their own 18-yard box!

If Pickford can continue to perform like this, it will surely make Moyes think twice about pushing through a move for a high-profile replacement for Mannone. I don't suppose you can turn down the opportunity to sign Joe Hart but Pickford is currently showing that he is ready for Premier League action.

CHANCE! Kone is starting to pose a real threat in the Southampton penalty area and he has come within inches of opening the scoring. After heading wide a moment earlier, he rose at the back post to head wide of the far one. Sunderland are enjoying a sustained spell of pressure now.

BOOKING! The first caution of the game goes to Redmond, who questioned the referee's decision to award a foul against his side. The referee's certainly are strict this season.

Southampton's intensity has dropped off a little and Sunderland are very much in this game now. They aren't quite creating the same amount of openings than their hosts but Van Aanholt has just lashed a speculative effort off target.

I feared for Sunderland after the start they made but they are the better team now. A free kick from Januzaj is headed well wide by Rodwell but they are getting into scoring positions with regularity now.

SHOT! Southampton finally offer a response and it comes through Cedric, but the Portuguese's left-footed drive is well held by Pickford, who had a number of bodies in front of him.

The goals are flying in elsewhere but it looks like we are going to reach the break on level terms. I'm very optimistic a goal or two though. This has been more entertaining than I expected!

There will be one minute of added-on time. If anyone is going to score before the break, it will be Sunderland.

The half-time whistle goes at St Mary's and we do indeed reach the break on level terms. Both teams have had their opportunities but so far, the goalkeepers are on top.

The players have started to emerge for the second half. Puel will be demanding improvements but Moyes will be asking for more of the same. This game is up for grabs.

We are back underway at St Mary's.

BOOKING! Davis has gone a bit overboard with his manager's enthusiasm at the second half and is immediately booked for a late challenge on Manquillo.

It has been a relatively quiet start to this second half. Southampton earned a set piece which was swung into the box but it was cleared by the Black Cats defence.

CHANCE! Djilobodji has been in the tick of the thick of the action over the past few minutes and he has just come within inches of giving his team the lead after the ball fell to him after a free kick. He should be doing better with that but he is not known for his goals.

Up the other end, Pickford needed to be alert to keep out Austin by smothering the ball at his feet. Austin has done alright today but I imagine Puel is contemplating a change with Long likely to be introduced sooner rather than later.

Right on the hour-mark, Hojbjerg sees a shot deflected over the crossbar. The former Bayern Munich midfielder has impressed in the middle of the park.

SAVE! Sunderland win a free kick after Januzaj is sent to the deck by Fonte. I thought the Manchester United loanee would take the set piece but responsibility falls to Borini, who forces a decent stop out of Forster.

SUBSTITUTION! That turns out to be Borini's final contribution as he's withdrawn by Moyes for Watmore.

BOOKING! Pienaar goes into the book for a foul on Hojbjerg. The South African has not done a whole lot this afternoon. It would not surprise me to see him replaced shortly.

SUBSTITUTIONS! The changes are coming thick and fast now. As predicted, Pienaar departs the action with Lens coming on in his place. For Southampton, Long has come on for Tadic. Bit of a surprise, that.

SHOT! Could Redmond have done better with that? He has been quiet this afternoon but after getting past Djilobodji, the winger could only fire straight at Pickford. Puel will be disappointed with that.

SAVE! What a save from Pickford! He's certainly looking an able deputy for Mannone. After being set up by Redmond, Long looked odds-on to score but the England Under-21 stopper somehow kept his effort out with his hand.

SAVE! Southampton are knocking hard on the Sunderland door but they cannot find a way past Pickford, who pulls off another tremendous intervention to deny Redmond. Surely it is only a matter of time...?

SUBSTITUTION! It's time for Rodriguez to show his manager why he should be staying at St Mary's. He has replaced Austin, with Long going into the middle.

SUBSTITUTION! Donald Love has been sent on by Moyes in place of Lynden Gooch. That may be the youngster's final first-team start for a while when Moyes finalises his first-team squad.

Sunderland take the lead! After Fonte barged into Defoe to concede a penalty, the striker got back to his feet before lashing the ball past a helpless Forster. Can Sunderland hang on to what would be a fantastic three points?

You can feel the nerves in the Sunderland defence as Southampton up the pressure but so far, they are holding firm. This result would do wonders for their season, if they can hang on.

It just had to be him, didn't it? Rumoured to be on his way out of the club, Rodriguez's shot shouldn't pose too much trouble for Pickford but he allows it to squeeze underneath him.

SHOT! Targett almost completes the turnaround with a free kick but it flashes past the post. All of a sudden, Sunderland would be content with a point!

There will be four minutes of added-on time.

The full-time whistle goes at St Mary's and both teams are forced to settle for a point. It's a result that does not suit either side but there will be an element of satisfaction in either camp after how the game ended. The hunt for a win goes on!

That will be all from Sports Mole for this match, but we hope you can stick around for full coverage of Hull City's clash with Manchester United. Thank you for joining us today. Goodbye for now.